The "American Dream" is one of the themes in the novel "The Great Gatsby" by Scott Fitzgerald. The "American Dream" has many connotations during the novels. These include:.
€ Success against all odds.
€ Desire for spiritual and material improvement.
€ Rich vs. Poor.
€ Perseverance.
€ Hope.
€ Love.
Not all of the above dreams were achieved during the novel. In fact, some of them actually deteriorated. "The Great Gatsby" shows the change of the American Dream from hope, love and perseverance to the want for money and materialistic wealth.
Firstly, Gatsby himself is true to the American Dream, unlike the other characters. Throughout the novel, Gatsby shows a longing to achieve the American Dream of love and shows hope and perseverance to attain this.
"He (Gatsby) stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light.".
This green light that Nick claimed to have seen, was a symbol for Gatsby's dreams and goals. Across the water was Daisy, a goal that Gatsby was constantly searching for but it was always just out of reach; it was in the past. When Nick told Gatsby that you couldnt repeat the past, Gatsby responded with:.
"Cant repeat the past? Why of course you can!".
This green light symbolised Gatsby's longing for Daisy (love), money and acceptance. The fact that Gatsby couldnt abandon Daisy and his love for her was because he strongly believed that one day they would be together again. Hope and perseverance were shown here and it also helped him hold purpose to his life, something the other characters within the novel dont have.
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther ".
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This also leads to Gatsby's distortion and obsession of his dream with Daisy.
